POSCO ACT 2012;Learning through questions and answers

The protection of Children from sexual offences Act ,2012

POSCO ACT-2012

Question-When did POSCO Act come into force ?

Answer-The protection of Children from sexual offences Act ,
2012 come into force on 14 November 2014.The act was passed in the Indian Parliament in MAY
2012.The ace under It’s ambit defines child as a person below the age group of
18 and is gender neutral and have clear definition for all types of sexual
harassment, penetrative or non-penetrative sexual abuse, and pornography.

Question-What happens if someone hides the information of
the commission of the offence?

Answer-If someone fails/hides the information of the commission/apprehension
of the offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to one year with fine.

Question-How POSCO is different from other IPC provisions?

Answer-Sexual offences are covered under different sections
of IPC. The IPC does not provide for all types of sexual offences against
children and more importantly, does not distinguish between adult and child
victims.

Question-who is child in POSCO Act 2012 ?

Answer-The protection of children from sexual offences
Act,2012 defines a child as any person below the age group of 18 years and
provides protection to all children under the age of 18 years from the offences
of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography.

Question-What is special in POSCO Act,2012 ?

Answer-The Act provides for stringent punishment, which have
been graded as per the gravity of the offence. The punishments range from
simple to rigorous imprisonment of varying periods. There is also provision for
fine, which is to be decided by the court.

Question-What is “aggravated” offence?Answer-An offence is treated as “aggravated” when committed
by a person in a position of trust or authority of child such as a member of
security forces, police officer, public servants, etc.

Question-What are the Punishment for various offences in the POSCO Act 2012 ?

Answer-Punishments for offences covered in the Act are:

(a)Penetrative Sexual Assault (section 3)-Not less
than seven years which may extend to imprisonment for life, and fine(section 4)

(b)Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault (section 5)-Not
less than ten years which may extend to imprisonment for life and fine(section
6)

(c)Sexual Assault (section 7)-Not less than three
years which may extend to five years, and fine(section 8)

(d)Aggravated Sexual Assault(section 9)-Not less
than five years which may extend to seven years, and fine (section 10)

(e)Sexual Harassment of child (section 11)-three
years and fine(section12)

(f)Use of Child for Pornographic purpose(section 13)-Five
years and fine and in the event of subsequent conviction, seven years and fine(section
14(1))

Question-where will the cases of the POSCO Act 2012 be
tried?

Answer-The Act provides for the establishment of special
courts for trial of offences under the Act, keeping the best interest of the
Child as of paramount importance at every stage of the judicial process. The
possibility of establishment of special court for trial of offences under the
law has also been provided for. Also, the special court is to complete the
trial within a period of one year, as far as possible.

Question-Whether the POSCO Act 2012 has recognized the
intent to commit an offence ?

Answer-The ACT recognizes that the intent to commit an
offence, even when unsuccessful for whatever reason, needs to be penalized. The attempt to commit an
offence under the ACT has been made liable for punishment for upto half the
punishment prescribed for the commission of the offence. An important step
forward is also recognition of the intent of the committing an offence, which
has also been provided for with the possibility of punishment of upto half the
punishment that has been provided for the actual committing of the crime.

Question-what are the specifications of the POSCO ACT 2012?

·Recording the statement of the child at the
residence of the child or at the place of his choice, preferable by a woman
police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector. Evidence has to be recorded
within 30 days.

·No child to be detained in the police station in
the night for any reason.

·Police officer to not be in the uniform while
recording the statement of the child.

·The statement of the child to be recorded as
spoken by the child.

·Assistance of an interpreter or translator or an
expert as per the need of the child .

·Assistance of special educator or any person
familiar with the manner of communication of the child in case child is
disabled.

·Medical examination of the child to be conducted
in the presence of the parent of the child or any other person in whom the
child has trust or confidence.

·In case the victim is girl child, the medical
examination shall be conducted by a woman doctor.

·Frequent breaks for the child during trial

·Child not to be called repeatedly to testify

·No aggressive questioning or character
assassination of the child.

·In camera trial of cases.

Question-whether the abetment of the offence is punishable in
the POSCO ACT 2012?

ANSWER-The Act also provides for punishment for abetment of
the offence, which is the same as for the commission of the offence. This would
cover trafficking of children for sexual purpose.

Question-On whom lies the burden of proof in the heinous
cases of POSCO ACT 2012?

ANSWER-For the more heinous offences of penetrative Sexual
Assault, Sexual Assault and Aggravated Sexual Assault , the burden of proof is
shifted on the accused .This provision has been made keeping in view the
greater vulnerability and innocence of children.

Question-What is the role of the SJPU in the POSCO ACT 2012?

Answer-To provide for relief and rehabilitation of the child, as soon as the complaint is made to the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) or local police, these will make immediate arrangements to give the child, care and protection such as admitting the child into shelter home or to the nearest hospital within 24 hours of recording the complaint, for long term rehabilitation of the child.

Question-What is the duty of the central and state
governments in spreading the awareness of the ACT among civil society ?Answer-The ACT casts a duty on the central and state
governments to spread awareness through media including the television, radio, and
the print media at regular intervals to make the general public, children as
well as their parents and guardians aware of the provisions of this ACT.

Question-Who will monitor the implementation of the ACT ?

Answer-The National Commission For the Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR) and State commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs)
have been made the designated authority to monitor the implementation of the
Act .

Question-Who can make the necessary changes in the Act ?

Answer-Section 45 of the ACT allows the Union Government to
make the necessary changes in the Act , whenever and wherever applicable. The
power to make rules rests with the central government. The rules framed under
the Act provide for qualification and experience of interpreters, translators, special
educators, and experts; arrangement for care and protection and emergency
medical treatment of the child: compensation payable to a child who has been
the victim of a sexual offence: and the manner of periodic monitoring of the
provisions of the Act by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and
state commissions for protection of Child Rights. The Act has also defined the
facts like qualification and experience of the translators, interpreters, special
educators, experts, arrangement for protection and care at times of emergencies
and emergency treatment of child as well as the compensation amount that is
payable to any victim of sexual abuse.

Question-Whether documentation or magisterial requisition be demanded in the emergency medical facility to the child ?

Answer-The Act has also made it clear that under situation
in which the child who is being taken for the medical facility on an emergency
factor no documentation or magisterial requisition would be demanded before the
treatment.

Question-Is there any compensation awarded to the subject as the consequences
of the abuse ?

Answer-The rules laid down in the Act also had defined the
criterion of awarding the compensations by the special court that includes loss
of educational and employment opportunities along with disability, disease, or
pregnancy suffered by the subjects as the consequences of the abuse. This
compensation would be awarded at the interim stage as well as after the trial
ends.

Question-why such Act was required in India ?

Answer-The bill which remained pending for a long time is a
necessity in a country where 40 percent of the population is below the age of
18.Also,in the absence of stringent laws against child sexual Abuse (CSA) ,over
53 percent surveyed in 2007 stated that they had experienced one or more forms
of sexual abuse.

Question-Is disclosing the name of child in media is punishable?

Answer-Disclosing the name of the child in the media is a
punishable offence, punishable by up to one year.

Question-Is reporting of the commission of the crime mandatory?

Answer-In keeping with the best international child
protection standards, the ACT provides for mandatory reporting of sexual
offences and is made punishable under sec-21 of the POSCO ACT.

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